Nothing wrong with this that has anything to do with digital photography. If this photo is any evidence, you're doing fine with the camera. However, you have made some normal, beginner compositional mistakes. Your main subject - the climber - is too centered. The Rule-of-Thirds recommends that you divide your image into a grid of nine boxes and place your main subject(s) on the dividing lines. That creates a more dynamic composition that allows the viewer's eye to travel around the image and take in more detail. It's more engaging.
I also think you shot from too far away. But with 8-megapixels of data you have some room to play. Try cropping it and see if you can create a composition that's more interesting.
Hope that helps. Welcome to the site. Glad to have you
Photo-John
Can you explain the rule of thirds? I am very new in trying to do "artistic" type photo's. Honestly, Ireally don't know how to crop to make a better photo. I am very new to this.
Draw two horizontal lines and two vertical lines dividing the photo into even thirds. Think tic-tac-toe.
The areas where the lines cross are "recommended" placements for the subject of your photo. You can place the subject in and around where the lines intersect, it doesn't have to be exactly on the lines.
When shooting scenic horizons, its "recommended" that the horizon be located at or near either the top or bottom line, depending if you want more or less sky.
It's not a hard fast rule but it does make the snapshot type photo more interesting.
Critique of the photo:
First of the photo is really to big to be viewed on a computer screen and see the image all together as a whole. Largest size for the galleries that I use is 1024x800.
I like the idea of the small climber on the large expanse. That gives contrast. However the climber does not stand out to well against the rock in the small photo as his skin is almost the same color. He does stand out in the large version but I cant view the whole image at once. Catch 22.
A smaller image and a slightly smaller crop placing the subject in or around the 1/3 areas would do wonders.
Over all I love the color of the rock and at full scale you can see the detail in the climber. so like PJ said, you have enough image to work with that you should be able to make something with it.
Thank you very much for the hints. I'm glad you noticed what I wanted, which was the climber against the great expanse of his challenge. I thought it was really saying something to me. I really wish I was good enough at this digital stuff to convey that.
So the climber should be off center? On a different line?
Should I set my camerea to take smaller pics? Or should I figure out how to crop?
You guys are great for constructive critism. I'm really glad I found this site!
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